Plenty of applicants think the cost of a US visa is just the application fee paid up front. From 2026, that assumption is wrong. A new US visa integrity fee of $250 now sits on top of almost every nonimmigrant visa, from student to work to visitor. It was written into law in 2025 and is rolling out this fiscal year. If a US move or trip is on your plans, your budget needs a second line item.
By the Travel Explore editorial desk. Last updated 29 June 2026.
What you will find here
- What the US visa integrity fee is
- Who pays and who is exempt
- How to plan around it
- Your questions, answered
What the US visa integrity fee is
The charge comes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed in July 2025. It sets a $250 fee for nonimmigrant visa applicants, with annual inflation adjustments from fiscal year 2026 onward. Crucially, it is collected when the visa is issued, not when you file, so an approval now carries a final bill many people do not expect.
The law allows for possible reimbursement if you fully comply with your visa terms, such as leaving on time. That refund mechanism is not yet in place, so treat the $250 as a real cost today.
Who pays and who is exempt
The fee reaches widely: H-1B workers, F-1 students, J exchange visitors, B-1/B-2 tourists and many more. Most Visa Waiver Program travellers, the majority of Canadian citizens, and diplomatic visa holders are exempt. Alongside it, the State Department expanded social media vetting to more visa classes from March 2026, so screening is tighter as well as pricier.
The pushback is loud. Travel economists hired by the US Travel Association estimate the fee would “deter 1.6 million potential visitors a year.”
How to plan around it
Consider Minh, a student from Hanoi heading to a US campus on an F-1. His SEVIS fee, application fee and now the $250 integrity fee stack into a single, larger number he has to show he can cover. Building it into his funding plan early avoids a nasty surprise at the issuance stage.
The lesson is the same for workers and visitors. Price the visa fully before you commit, keep proof you can pay it, and follow your visa terms to the letter in case a refund route opens later. One short sentence to remember. Approval is not the finish line.
Want a clean breakdown of every US visa cost in your category? Get the full fee map at https://linktr.ee/travelexpore.
Quick recap
- A $250 visa integrity fee now applies to most US nonimmigrant visas.
- It is charged at issuance, not when you apply.
- VWP travellers, most Canadians and diplomats are exempt.
- A refund may be possible later, but assume you pay it now.
Your questions, answered
When do I pay the fee?
At the point your visa is issued, after approval, not when you submit the application.
Is the $250 refundable?
The law allows possible reimbursement for full compliance with visa terms, but the process is not operational yet.
Does it apply to green cards?
No. It targets nonimmigrant visas. Immigrant visa and green card fees are separate.
Who is exempt?
Most Visa Waiver Program travellers, the majority of Canadian citizens, and diplomatic visa holders.
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- Facebook: Planning a US study, work or holiday trip? There is a new $250 fee you should know about.
Budget for the visa, not just the flight
The real cost of a US visa now includes this fee, and getting caught out at issuance is avoidable. Map every charge in your category before you apply with help at https://linktr.ee/travelexpore.
Sources
- US Department of State, expanded screening and vetting (T0)
- Boundless, US visa screening and fee changes 2026 (T1)
- Vanderbilt ISSS, visa integrity fee summary (T2, supporting)
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